Rebecca, Declan and Zeke to leave

[Perdita]

A trio of Neighbours stars are to leave the soap later this year, it has been announced.

Jane Hall, Matthew Werkmeister and Erin Mullally will all be seen bowing out of the long-running drama in the months ahead, TV Tonight reports.

Hall - who has played Rebecca Napier for nearly four years - revealed her decision to quit in an interview with TV Week.

She told the magazine: "I've decided it's time to say 'au revoir' to Erinsborough. It's sad to be leaving… but I'm looking forward to the future and new and exciting acting adventures."

Meanwhile, Werkmeister has decided to leave after more than five years in the role of Ramsay Street's Zeke Kinski. The 18-year-old actor has previously expressed a desire to pursue a career in TV production.

Finally, news of Mullally's departure comes less than ten months after he was announced as the new Declan Napier, replacing previous actor James Sorensen in the role.

As confirmed earlier this year, Ringo Brown, Donna Freedman and Steph Scully - played by Sam Clark, Margot Robbie and Carla Bonner respectively - are also due to depart screens.

Neighbours' 6,000th episode airs in the UK on Friday.

[StarsOfCCTV]

Don't mind Zeke, Rebecca I kind of like... and Declan well won't miss him now he changed..wish James Sorensen would come back!

I keep forgetting to watch neighbours I haven't watched it for a week! Must start again this week.

[tammyy2j]

Declan should have left earlier instead of the recast

[alan45]

Baby India is also leaving so that makes 4

[CrazyLea]

Lol Alan.

I don't mind Zeke or Declan leaving. I don't like Declan any more. I want James back too
I like Rebecca though, but ah well.

[lizann]

Rebecca is one of the best characters on the show

[Ruffed_lemur]

Out of the 3 I will really miss Rebecca. Zeke doesn't have much to do recently, and I haven't taken to new Declan. The character has changed a lot recently too. Couldn't imagine old Declan being like this.

[LostVoodoo]

i'll miss rebecca, always thought she was a really good character. she is essentially a normal mum and woman but has a personality and the woman who plays her is a good actress. like others, not bothered about new Declan, esp since the old actor leaving coincided with his radical personality change too.

has Zeke really only been in it five years? seems like he's been there so much longer than rebecca and dec. will miss him too, as a slightly odd teen character lol.

[roger43]

This really is disturbing, following a recent trend. My personal opinion is that Donna and Zeke are played by the only two young actors capable of doing comedy well, although Matt has been given very few opportunities recently. This really only leaves Karl, Susan, Lynn and Paul. I have never found Toadie amusing, nor Callum, and I can never get past the fact that Tom Oliver used to be a porn star. If Neighbours is going to become another Eastenders, I'm out.

[Perdita]

Neighbours actor Sandy Winton has admitted that it is "sad" to see so many cast members bowing out from the long-running show.

Last month, it was announced that Jane Hall, Matthew Werkmeister and Erin Mullally will be leaving their respective roles as Rebecca, Zeke and Declan in the months ahead.

The news followed the previous confirmation that Sam Clark, Margot Robbie and Carla Bonner had also decided to quit their parts as Ringo, Donna and Steph.

Speaking to Holy Soap about the departures, Winton commented: "It is sad. But if you look at a cast list from five years ago and five years before that, it's amazing how much these things turn over, but sad to have so many wonderful people leaving at the same time.

"But on the other hand, there are some great people coming in and taking on roles."

The star, who plays Erinsborough High principal Michael Williams, also hinted that Ringo's final storyline will be particularly memorable. The character's dramatic exit has already aired on Australian screens.

Winton teased: "When Ringo leaves, it's sad for all of us. It's a bit of a shock, really, when he departs, as opposed to some of the other characters, who may or may not have futures."